Belize Ramsar wetland
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
376 bird species recorded; the most from February to April.
Cephas · CC BY-SA 4.0
This month here
309 species in January.320 species in February.340 species in March.329 species in April.276 species in May.208 species in June.212 species in July.232 species in August.241 species in September.286 species in October.294 species in November.294 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.


















































































































































































































































































- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
376 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 376Speciesrecorded more than once
- 150Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 6ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 469,957Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 33Raptors
- 6Owls
- 24Waders
- 10Gulls & seabirds
- 11Ducks & geese
- 26Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 175Songbirds
- 89Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 376 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors33 species
- Black VultureCoragyps atratus
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Snail KiteRostrhamus sociabilis
- Lesser Yellow-headed VultureCathartes burrovianus
- Roadside HawkRupornis magnirostris
- Black-collared HawkBusarellus nigricollis
- Bat FalconFalco rufigularis
- Laughing FalconHerpetotheres cachinnans
- Great Black HawkButeogallus urubitinga
- Short-tailed HawkButeo brachyurus
- Crane HawkGeranospiza caerulescens
- Grey-lined HawkButeo nitidus
- Aplomado FalconFalco femoralis
- Collared Forest FalconMicrastur semitorquatus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- White-tailed KiteElanus leucurus
- Grey-headed KiteLeptodon cayanensis
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus
- Buteo albicaudatusButeo albicaudatus
- King VultureSarcoramphus papa
- Hook-billed KiteChondrohierax uncinatus
- Falco sparveriusFalco sparverius
- Zone-tailed HawkButeo albonotatus
- Black Hawk-eagleSpizaetus tyrannus
- Crested CaracaraCaracara plancus
- Double-toothed KiteHarpagus bidentatus
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Common Black HawkButeogallus anthracinus
- Plumbeous KiteIctinia plumbea
- Black-and-White Hawk-EagleSpizaetus melanoleucus
Owls6 species
- Ferruginous Pygmy OwlGlaucidium brasilianum
- American Barn OwlTyto furcata
- Middle American Screech OwlMegascops guatemalae
- Mottled OwlStrix virgata
- Stygian OwlAsio stygius
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
Waders24 species
- Northern JacanaJacana spinosa
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaNT
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
- Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanus
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNT
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNT
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus
- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisVU
- Western SandpiperCalidris mauri
- Southern LapwingVanellus chilensis
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaNT
- American golden ploverPluvialis dominica
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
- Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusNT
- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor
- American AvocetRecurvirostra americana
- WilletTringa semipalmata
- Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusVU
- Bartram's SandpiperBartramia longicauda
Gulls & seabirds10 species
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla
- Magnificent FrigatebirdFregata magnificens
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Forster's TernSterna forsteri
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan
- Royal TernThalasseus maximus
Ducks & geese11 species
- Black-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Fulvous Whistling-duckDendrocygna bicolor
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- American WigeonMareca americana
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanoptera
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Herons, ibises & grebes26 species
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Phalacrocorax brasilianusPhalacrocorax brasilianus
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- Green HeronButorides virescens
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- Snowy EgretEgretta thula
- White IbisEudocimus albus
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Bare-throated Tiger-heronTigrisoma mexicanum
- Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
- AnhingaAnhinga anhinga
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Boat-billed HeronCochlearius cochlearius
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
- Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea
- Agami HeronAgamia agamiNT
- Pinnated BitternBotaurus pinnatus
- Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus
- American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis
- Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
- Reddish EgretEgretta rufescensNT
- Plegadis chihiPlegadis chihi
- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus
Storks & cranes2 species
- Wood StorkMycteria americana
- JabiruJabiru mycteria
Songbirds175 species
- Scarlet FlycatcherPyrocephalus rubinus
- Tropical MockingbirdMimus gilvus
- Social FlycatcherMyiozetetes similis
- Tropical KingbirdTyrannus melancholicus
- Great KiskadeePitangus sulphuratus
- Quiscalus mexicanusQuiscalus mexicanus
- Mangrove SwallowTachycineta albilinea
- Morelet's SeedeaterSporophila morelleti
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Clay-colored ThrushTurdus grayi
- Mangrove WarblerSetophaga petechia
- Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea
- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnolia
- Melodious BlackbirdDives dives
- Mangrove VireoVireo pallens
- Common Tody-flycatcherTodirostrum cinereum
- Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
- Southern House WrenTroglodytes musculus
- Gray-breasted MartinProgne chalybea
- Spot-breasted WrenPheugopedius maculipectus
- Agelaius phoeniceusAgelaius phoeniceus
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Brown JayPsilorhinus morio
- Grey CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Blue-gray TanagerThraupis episcopus
- Dusky-capped FlycatcherMyiarchus tuberculifer
- Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominica
- Hooded OrioleIcterus cucullatus
- Orchard orioleIcterus spurius
- Black-cowled OrioleIcterus prosthemelas
- Yucatan JayCyanocorax yucatanicus
- Barred AntshrikeThamnophilus doliatus
- Yellow-bellied ElaeniaElaenia flavogaster
- Saltator grandisSaltator grandis
- Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrina
- White-eyed VireoVireo griseus
- Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
- Rufous-browed PeppershrikeCyclarhis gujanensis
- Summer TanagerPiranga rubra
- Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savana
- Couch's KingbirdTyrannus couchii
- Myrtle WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Rufous-breasted SpinetailSynallaxis erythrothorax
- Yellow-billed CaciqueAmblycercus holosericeus
- Rose-throated BecardPachyramphus aglaiae
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Northern ParulaSetophaga americana
- Ivory-billed WoodcreeperXiphorhynchus flavigaster
- Purple MartinProgne subis
- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virens
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Greenish ElaeniaMyiopagis viridicata
- Yellow-olive FlatbillTolmomyias sulphurescens
- Lesser GreenletHylophilus decurtatus
- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus
- Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
- Grace's WarblerSetophaga graciae
- Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
- Northern Beardless-TyrannuletCamptostoma imberbe
- Brown-crested FlycatcherMyiarchus tyrannulus
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
- Yellow-throated EuphoniaEuphonia hirundinacea
- Yellow-green VireoVireo flavoviridis
- Bright-rumped AttilaAttila spadiceus
- Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Yucatan FlycatcherMyiarchus yucatanensis
- Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneus
- Tropical PeweeContopus cinereus
- Yellow-tailed OrioleIcterus mesomelas
- Blue-black GrassquitVolatinia jacarina
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina
- Black CatbirdMelanoptila glabrirostris
- Montezuma OropendolaPsarocolius montezuma
- Boat-billed FlycatcherMegarynchus pitangua
- Masked TityraTityra semifasciata
- Blue-winged warblerVermivora cyanoptera
- Grey-throated ChatGranatellus sallaei
- Olive SparrowArremonops rufivirgatus
- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum
- Northern BentbillOncostoma cinereigulare
- White-bellied WrenUropsila leucogastra
- Red-legged HoneycreeperCyanerpes cyaneus
- Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacilla
- Lesser GoldfinchSpinus psaltria
- Green-backed SparrowArremonops chloronotus
- Inca JayCyanocorax yncas
- Grey-headed TanagerEucometis penicillata
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
- Black-headed SaltatorSaltator atriceps
- Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaNT
- Slate-headed Tody-flycatcherPoecilotriccus sylvia
- Scrub EuphoniaEuphonia affinis
- Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens
- Olivaceous WoodcreeperSittasomus griseicapillus
- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus
- Thick-billed Seed FinchSporophila funerea
- Black-crowned TityraTityra inquisitor
- Botteri's SparrowPeucaea botterii
- Gray-crowned YellowthroatGeothlypis poliocephala
- Streak-headed WoodcreeperLepidocolaptes souleyetii
- Yellow-backed OrioleIcterus chrysater
- Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
- Variable SeedeaterSporophila corvina
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Tawny-winged WoodcreeperDendrocincla anabatina
- Altamira OrioleIcterus gularis
- Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus
- Painted BuntingPasserina ciris
- Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorum
- Sulphur-bellied FlycatcherMyiodynastes luteiventris
- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica
- Yellow-winged TanagerThraupis abbas
- Blue BuntingCyanocompsa parellina
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Grey-collared BecardPachyramphus major
- Ramphocaenus melanurusRamphocaenus melanurus
- Tropical GnatcatcherPolioptila plumbea
- Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea
- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea
- White-collared ManakinManacus candei
- Ruddy WoodcreeperDendrocincla homochroa
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- White-breasted Wood-wrenHenicorhina leucosticta
- Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosa
- Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusilla
- American Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fusca
- Swainson's warblerLimnothlypis swainsonii
- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea
- Red-capped manakinPipra mentalis
- Amazonian Royal FlycatcherOnychorhynchus coronatus
- Ochre-bellied FlycatcherMionectes oleagineus
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicus
- Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarum
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- DickcisselSpiza americana
- Blue-black GrosbeakCyanocompsa cyanoides
- Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysopteraNT
- Giant CowbirdMolothrus oryzivorus
- Yellow-faced GrassquitTiaris olivaceus
- Dusky AntbirdCercomacra tyrannina
- Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulva
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- Stub-tailed SpadebillPlatyrinchus cancrominus
- Olive-Sided FlycatcherContopus cooperi
- Olive-backed EuphoniaEuphonia gouldi
- Great AntshrikeTaraba major
- Mayan AntthrushFormicarius moniliger
- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrina
- Rose-throated TanagerPiranga roseogularis
- Buff-throated SaltatorSaltator maximus
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Northern House WrenTroglodytes aedon
- Prairie WarblerSetophaga discolor
- BananaquitCoereba flaveola
- Whiskered MyiobiusMyiobius barbatus
- Northern Barred WoodcreeperDendrocolaptes sanctithomae
- Brown-winged SchiffornisSchiffornis turdina
- Dot-winged AntwrenMicrorhopias quixensis
- White-wingedPachyramphus polychopterus
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphia
- Canada warblerCardellina canadensis
- Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum
- Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus
- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens
- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla
- American Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestiva
Other birds89 species
- Ringed KingfisherMegaceryle torquata
- LimpkinAramus guarauna
- Ruddy Ground DoveColumbina talpacoti
- Rufous-tailed HummingbirdAmazilia tzacatl
- Groove-billed AniCrotophaga sulcirostris
- Pale-vented PigeonPatagioenas cayennensis
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- Aztec ParakeetAratinga nana
- White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica
- Russet-naped Wood RailAramides albiventris
- Green KingfisherChloroceryle americana
- Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorus
- Red-lored AmazonAmazona autumnalis
- White-fronted AmazonAmazona albifrons
- Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifrons
- Yucatan WoodpeckerMelanerpes pygmaeus
- White-tipped DoveLeptotila verreauxi
- American CootFulica americana
- Plain ChachalacaOrtalis vetula
- PauraqueNyctidromus albicollis
- American Pygmy KingfisherChloroceryle aenea
- Lineated WoodpeckerDryocopus lineatus
- Common Squirrel-cuckooPiaya cayana
- Green-breasted MangoAnthracothorax prevostii
- Black-headed TrogonTrogon melanocephalus
- Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica
- Common Ground-DoveColumbina passerina
- Striped CuckooTapera naevia
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Ruddy CrakeLaterallus ruber
- Yucatan AmazonAmazona xantholora
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris
- SungrebeHeliornis fulica
- Red-billed PigeonPatagioenas flavirostris
- Cynanthus canivetiiCynanthus canivetii
- Buff-bellied HummingbirdAmazilia yucatanensis
- Plain-breasted Ground-DoveColumbina minuta
- Amazon KingfisherChloroceryle amazona
- Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalaris
- White-necked PuffbirdNotharchus hyperrhynchus
- Blue Ground DoveClaravis pretiosa
- Lesser NighthawkChordeiles acutipennis
- Yellow-breasted CrakePorzana flaviventer
- Black-throated BobwhiteColinus nigrogularis
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Chlorestes candidaChlorestes candida
- Mangrove CuckooCoccyzus minor
- Vaux's SwiftChaetura vauxi
- Pale-billed WoodpeckerCampephilus guatemalensis
- Collared AraçariPteroglossus torquatus
- Keel-billed ToucanRamphastos sulfuratusNT
- SoraPorzana carolina
- White-crowned ParrotPionus senilis
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
- Thicket TinamouCrypturellus cinnamomeus
- Short-billed PigeonPatagioenas nigrirostris
- Cinnamon HummingbirdAmazilia rutila
- Smoky-brown WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus fumigatus
- Golden-olive WoodpeckerColaptes rubiginosus
- Gartered TrogonTrogon caligatus
- Stripe-throated HermitPhaethornis striigularis
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Great CurassowCrax rubraVU
- Common PotooNyctibius jamaicensis
- Ruddy Quail-DoveGeotrygon montana
- Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus
- Yucatan NightjarAntrostomus badius
- Grey-headed DoveLeptotila plumbeiceps
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Southern Mealy AmazonAmazona farinosa
- Lesson's MotmotMomotus lessonii
- Saucerottia cyanocephalaSaucerottia cyanocephala
- Pionopsitta haematotisPionopsitta haematotis
- Little TinamouCrypturellus soui
- Yucatan PoorwillNyctiphrynus yucatanicus
- Lesser Swallow-tailed SwiftPanyptila cayennensis
- Spotted RailPardirallus maculatus
- White-crowned PigeonPatagioenas leucocephalaNT
- Uniform CrakeAmaurolimnas concolor
- Scaled PigeonPatagioenas speciosa
- Black-billed cuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus
- Long-billed HermitPhaethornis longirostris
- Pampa curvipennisPampa curvipennis
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaVU
- Gray-breasted CrakeLaterallus exilis
- White-necked JacobinFlorisuga mellivora
- White-collared SwiftStreptoprocne zonaris
- Chuck-will's-widowAntrostomus carolinensisNT
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species from February to April.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan27°/19°101 mm
- Feb29°/20°55 mm
- Mar32°/20°45 mm
- Apr34°/22°34 mm
- May33°/24°118 mm
- Jun30°/24°230 mm
- Jul30°/24°149 mm
- Aug30°/24°174 mm
- Sep30°/24°198 mm
- Oct28°/23°243 mm
- Nov27°/20°170 mm
- Dec27°/20°126 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.
Protected area in Belize
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Belize.
376 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 469,957 open records.
The most recorded are the Northern Jacana, the Great White Egret and the Scarlet Flycatcher.
45 species come for the summer, 97 for the winter and 8 only pass through.
6 are threatened worldwide, including Lesser yellowlegs, White-rumped Sandpiper and Grey Plover.
The most species are recorded from February to April.

Get there and watch
- Beck's Bed & Breakfastplace to stay · 5.3 km · 5 within 10 km
- Indian Creeknearest town · 19 km in a straight line
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 33 km in a straight lineCar hire at BZE airport (Belize City)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.

Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 5places to stay within 10 kmBeck's Bed & Breakfast, Tillet Village Inn, Jacana Inn and 2 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- campsites within 10 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q5187869) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 469,957 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Lakeyas, Cascadyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.






